Hearing aid comprising a directional microphone system

ABSTRACT

A hearing aid comprises a forward path comprising a) at least two input transducers, each for picking up sound from the environment of the hearing aid and providing respective at least two electric input signals; b) a beamformer filter for filtering said at least two electric input signals or signals originating therefrom and providing a spatially filtered signal; c) a signal processor for processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or more signals originating therefrom, and providing one or more processed signals based thereon; and d) an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable by the user as sound based on said one or more processed signals. The hearing aid further comprises e) a feedback estimation system for estimating a current feedback from the output transducer to each of the at least two input transducers and providing respective feedback measures indicative thereof; and f) a controller configured to receive said feedback measures from said feedback estimation system and to switch between two modes of operation of the hearing aid, a one-input transducer (e.g. omni-directional) mode of operation, and a multi-input transducer (directional) mode of operation, in dependence of the feedback measures. to. The application further relates to a method of operating a hearing aid. Thereby the gain provided by the hearing aid to the user (without a significant risk of howl) can be maximized.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure relates to hearing aids, e.g. to hearing aidsadapted to compensate for a moderate to severe or severe to profoundhearing loss. The disclosure specifically relates to directionality andfeedback in hearing aids. EP3185589A1 deals with a scheme for reducingor handling acoustic feedback from a receiver (loudspeaker) located inthe ear canal to a microphone system comprising one or more microphoneslocated at or behind the ear and one or more microphones located at orin the ear canal.

A Hearing Aid:

The present disclosure relates to a hearing aid comprising a feedbackestimation unit for controlling or influencing a directional ornon-directional mode of operation of the hearing aid.

It is a well-known problem that a hearing aid can become unstable andhowl when loop gain exceeds 1. The (open) loop gain is a product of thegain in the hearing aid and the coupling between the receiver (speaker)and a microphone, primarily, but not exclusively, through a vent orother opening in the earpiece. The vent (or other open structure) isgenerally inserted in the earpiece of hearing aids so as to avoid (orreduce) occlusion. The coupling between the receiver and a microphone iscalled the external or physical or acoustical feedback path and may haveother origins than a deliberately arranged vent, e.g. mechanicalcoupling between various parts of the earpiece, etc.

The frequency dependent loop gain LG in the loop comprising the forwardpath and the electrical feedback path may be estimated as the sum of the(insertion) gain IG in the forward path, also termed ‘forward gain’(e.g. fully or partially implemented by a signal processor (e.g. DSP orHLC in FIG. 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B)) and the gain FBG in the electricalfeedback path aimed at minimizing, preferably cancelling, the acousticalfeedback between the receiver and the microphone of the hearing aidsystem (i.e. in a logarithmic representation, LG(f)=IG(f)+FBG(f), wheref is the frequency). In practice, the frequency range Δf=[f_(min);f_(max)] considered by the hearing aid system, e.g. limited to a part ofthe typical human audible frequency range, e.g. 20 Hz≤f≤20 kHz, isdivided into a number N of frequency bands (FB), e.g. N≥16, (FB₁, FB₂, .. . , FB_(N)) and the expression for the loop gain can be expressed independence of the frequency bands, i.e.LG(FB_(i))=IG(FB_(i))+FBG(FB_(i)), i=1, 2, . . . , N, or simplyLG=IG_(i)+FBG_(i).

A specific ‘critical feedback mode’ of operation may be defined andentered, either via a user interface or automatically, e.g. when aspecific feedback criterion is fulfilled, e.g. when a current loop gainis larger than a threshold value, e.g. 0 dB (maybe for a certain minimumperiod of time, e.g. over a minimum number of time frames, e.g. ≥100 ms,or ≥500 ms). In an embodiment, the present scheme of controlling orinfluencing the switching between a directional and non-directional modeof operation is activated when the ‘critical feedback mode’ ofoperation’ is entered. The control of the directional andnon-directional modes of operation may be on a per frequency band level.

In an aspect, a hearing aid comprising a forward path comprising atleast two input transducers (e.g. 2 or more microphones), a signalprocessor, and an output transducer is provided. The hearing aid furthercomprises a feedback estimation system for estimating a current feedbackfrom the output transducer to each of the at least two input transducersand providing respective feedback measures indicative thereof. At agiven point in time, the at least two input transducers may experiencedifferent feedback paths (e.g. as indicated by a feedback pathdifference measure being larger than a threshold value), as determinedby the feedback estimation system (or a controller coupled to thefeedback estimation system). The feedback path difference measure may beindicative of a difference between the respective feedback measures (oftwo of the at least two input transducers). In a non-directional mode ofoperation, the hearing aid is configured to—at a given time—choose theelectric input signal from the input transducer having the smallestfeedback measure as the electric input signal to be processed in theforward path (thus providing a signal with the best possible feedbackmargin, allowing the largest gain to be applied without a risk of howl).

In an embodiment, the hearing aid is configured to enter a single inputtransducer (e.g. a single microphone) omni-directional mode of operation(e.g. for low input level (high gain) or soft environments) in case thefeedback path difference measure for two of the at least two inputtransducers is above a (first) threshold value. In an embodiment, thehearing aid is configured to only be allowed to enter a multi-inputtransducer (directional) mode of operation when the feedback margin onall input transducers (e.g. microphones) allow it, e.g. including thatthe feedback path difference measure is below a predefined (second)threshold value (or below respective individual threshold values) forall input transducer (e.g. microphone) pairs (contributing to thedirectional system, i.e. connected to a beamformer). In an embodiment,the hearing aid is fitted with a normal fitting rationale (e.g. NAL orDSL or a proprietary fitting rational such as Oticon's VAC) andconfigured to use a normal compression algorithm (e.g. compressiveamplification).

The scheme according to the present disclosure has the advantage ofallowing a higher gain to be applied, e.g. in ITE instruments (i.e.hearing aid types enclosed in a single, e.g. custom made, housing,adapted for being located in-the-ear (ITE), e.g. at or in the earcanal). ITE-instruments comprising a custom made (tightly fitting)ear-mould are especially valuable for hearing impaired users with amoderate to severe or severe to profound hearing loss (because suchhearing instruments may produce a large sound pressure level at a user'sear drum and thus compensate for a large hearing loss). A schemeaccording to the present disclosure can e.g. be used to create smallersuper- or ultra-power BTE type hearing aids allowing the use ofdirectionality, when the microphone placement of one of the microphonesis less critical (e.g. if the microphones are located a certain distancefrom the output transducer, e.g. in a BTE-part adapted for being locatedbehind-the-ear (BTE)). Alternatively, the scheme may improve feedbackperformance for same size hearing aids.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid comprises a BTE-part adapted for beinglocated at or behind an ear (pinna) of the user and an ITE-part adaptedfor being located at or in an ear canal of the user. The BTE-part andthe ITE-part are electrically or acoustically connected to each other.The BTE-part as well as the ITE part may comprise at least one inputtransducer, e.g. a microphone. An input transducer in the BTE part andan input transducer in the ITE-part are typically asymmetrically locatedrelative to the output transducer (be it located in the BTE-part or inthe ITE-part). The BTE-part may comprise at least two input transducers(e.g. microphones), and the ITE part may comprise at least one inputtransducer, e.g. a microphone. The BTE-part as well as the ITE part maycomprise at least two input transducers, e.g. microphones.

The ITE-part may form part of a hearing aid comprising other parts, e.g.a BTE-part. The BTE-part may comprise the output transducer. TheITE-part may constitute the hearing aid. The ITE-part may comprise theoutput transducer. The ITE-part may comprise at least two inputtransducers. The ITE-part may comprise a ventilation channel or opening(to diminish a user's perception of occlusion). The at least two inputtransducers in the ITE-part may be asymmetrically located in theITE-part (e.g. in a housing of the ITE-part). Such asymmetric locationmay be a result of a design constraint due to components of the hearingaid, e.g. a battery (in particular in customized ITE-parts). Thereby theat least two input transducers (e.g. first and second microphones) mayexhibit different feedback paths from the output transducer (e.g.loudspeaker).

An asymmetric location of two input transducers relative to the outputtransducer is taken to mean that they inherently exhibit differentfeedback paths. Different feedback paths may originate from asymmetriclocations of input transducers relative to the output transducer (i.e. astationary, relatively stable, inherent contribution to the feedbackpath difference). It may, however, also be due to an asymmetric feedbacksituation (e.g. due to different acoustic influences (e.g. fromreflecting surfaces around the user) on the different input transducers,i.e. an asymmetric feedback situation of a more dynamic nature).

A hearing aid according to the present disclosure may comprise a schemefor entering or leaving a directional mode of operation (e.g.implementing a shift between an omni-directional and a directional modeof operation, the former providing a substantially omni-directionalsignal, the latter providing a beamformed signal). The scheme may beused to control the use of either a beamformed signal or one of theelectric input signals from one of the at least two (e.g.omni-directional) input transducers as the signal for being presented tothe user (after appropriate frequency/level dependentamplification/attenuation by the signal processor).

In an aspect of the present application, a hearing aid adapted to belocated at or in an ear of a user and to compensate for a hearing lossof the user is provided. The hearing aid may comprise

-   -   a forward path comprising        -   at least two input transducers, each for picking up sound            from the environment of the hearing aid and providing            respective at least two electric input signals;        -   a beamformer filter for filtering said at least two electric            input signals or signals originating therefrom and providing            a spatially filtered signal;        -   a signal processor for processing one or more of said            electric input signals or one or more signals originating            therefrom (e.g. said spatially filtered signal), and            providing one or more processed signals based thereon, and        -   an output transducer for generating stimuli perceivable by            the user as sound based on said one or more processed            signals, and        -   a feedback estimation system for estimating a current            feedback from the output transducer to each of the at least            two input transducers and providing respective feedback            measures indicative thereof.

The hearing aid may further comprise a controller configured to receivesaid feedback measures from said feedback estimation system.

The controller may be configured to switch between two modes ofoperation of the hearing aid, a one-input transducer (e.g.omni-directional) mode of operation, and a multi-input transducer(directional) mode of operation, in dependence of the feedback measures,e.g. the feedback path difference measure(s). The controller may beconfigured to switch between the two modes of operation in a specificcritical feedback mode of operation (where a feedback criterion isfulfilled, e.g. in that a critical feedback has been detected or isestimated to be in development).

The controller may be configured to either

-   -   in case a current feedback path difference measure between at        least two of said feedback measures is larger than a first        threshold value, select the electric input signal from the input        transducer among the at least two input transducers having the        smallest feedback measure, or a signal originating therefrom, as        the input signal to the signal processor, and/or    -   in case a feedback path difference measure between each of said        feedback measures is smaller than a second threshold value,        select the spatially filtered signal as the input signal to the        signal processor.

The controller may be configured to receive the feedback measures fromthe feedback estimation system and to provide that the hearing aidenters a single-input transducer (e.g. omni-directional) mode ofoperation in case a current feedback path difference measure between atleast two of the feedback measures is larger than a first thresholdvalue, and to select the electric input signal from the input transduceramong the at least two input transducers having the smallest feedbackmeasure, or a signal originating therefrom, as the input signal to thesignal processor.

The controller may be configured to receive the feedback measures fromthe feedback estimation system and to provide that the hearing aidenters a multi-input transducer (e.g. directional) mode of operation incase a feedback path difference measure between each of the feedbackmeasures is smaller than a second threshold value, and to select thespatially filtered signal as the input signal to the signal processor.

The controller may comprises a feedback path difference measure unitconfigured to determine respective feedback path difference measures(e.g. in case of three input transducers IT1, IT2, IT3) FBDM₁₂=FB1est−FB2 est, FBDM₁₃=FB1 est−FB3 est, and FBDM₂₃=FB2 est−FB3 est) and toprovide a selection-control signal in dependence thereof (e.g. accordingto the, e.g. predefined, feedback criterion). The selection controlsignal may be configured to select the appropriate signal as the inputsignal to the signal processor (e.g. to select between anomni-directional and a directional mode of operation).

Thereby an improved hearing aid may be provided. Thereby the gainprovided by the hearing aid to the user (without a significant risk ofhowl) can be maximized.

The first and second threshold values may be equal. The first and secondthreshold values may be different. The first and/or second thresholdvalues may be frequency dependent. The first and/or second thresholdvalues may be frequency independent.

The at least two input transducers may be asymmetrically locatedrelative to the output transducer. This may e.g. be achieved when atleast one of the at least two input transducers is/are located in theBTE part and at least one of the at least two input transducers is/arelocated in the ITE-part. It may further be achieved when the at leasttwo input transducers are located in the BTE-part (and the outputtransducer is located in the BTE-part or in the ITE-part), or when theat least two input transducers are located in the ITE-part (and theoutput transducer is e.g. located in the BTE-part or in the ITE-part).

The hearing aid may comprise at least three input transducers, e.g. twoin a BTE-part and one in an ITE-part. A different location of the atleast three input transducers provides an improved possibility toidentify an input transducer with a relatively low feedback path (highgain margin) in many acoustic situations. A spatially filtered(directional) signal based on electric input signals from two inputtransducers located in the BTE-part, or feedback corrected versionsthereof, may be provided. A spatially filtered (directional) signalbased on electric input signals from two input transducers located inthe BTE-part and from an input transducer located in the ITE-part, orfeedback corrected versions thereof, may be provided. The schemeaccording to the present disclosure may be used to—in a specificcritical feedback mode of operation—select between A) a single of the atleast three electric input signals and B) either B1) the beamformedsignal based on the BTE-microphone signals or B2) the beamformed signalbased on all three input signals (the selection between B1) and B2) maye.g. be predetermined, or adaptively determined, e.g. in dependence of afeedback criterion).

The feedback measure for a given input transducer may e.g. comprise animpulse response of the feedback path from the output transducer to theinput transducer in question. The feedback measure for a given inputtransducer may e.g. comprise a frequency response of the feedback pathfrom the output transducer to the input transducer in question, e.g.represented by a feedback gain (e.g. measured at a number offrequencies). The feedback path difference measure for two of thefeedback paths (e.g. between the feedback paths of first and secondinput transducers, e.g. microphones) may e.g. be based on an algebraicdifference between the respective feedback measures, e.g. an absolutevalue of such difference. The feedback path difference measure may e.g.be a sum of differences (or squared differences) of corresponding valuesof the respective feedback measures (e.g. of individual time samples ofthe respective impulse responses, or of individual values at differentfrequencies of the respective frequency responses). Alternatively, thefeedback path difference measure may be based on other differencemeasures, e.g. a ratio of two feedback path estimates, or a logarithm ofthe ratio, etc. The feedback path difference measure may e.g. be basedon a mathematical distance measure, e.g. an Euclidian distance, or asquared Euclidian distance. The feedback path difference measure for twofeedback paths (to two input transducers) may be arranged to be larger,the larger the algebraic (e.g. the absolute value of) difference betweenthe two feedback paths are.

The feedback measure for a given input transducer may comprise animpulse response of the feedback path from the output transducer to theinput transducer in question, or a frequency response of the feedbackpath from the output transducer to the input transducer in question, thelatter being measured at a number of frequencies.

The feedback path difference measure between at least two of saidfeedback measures may be based on an algebraic difference between therespective feedback measures.

The feedback path difference measure may be determined as a sum ofdifferences, or squared differences, of corresponding individual timesamples of respective impulse responses, or of (corresponding)individual values at different frequencies of respective frequencyresponses. The hearing aid may be adapted to compensate for a moderateto severe or a severe to profound hearing loss of the user. A moderatehearing loss may be defined as a hearing loss in the range between 40and 70 dB. A severe hearing loss may be defined as a hearing loss in therange between 70 and 90 dB. A profound hearing loss may be defined as ahearing loss in the range above 90 dB.

The hearing aid may comprise a BTE-part adapted for being located at orbehind an ear (pinna) of the user and an ITE-part adapted for beinglocated at or in an ear canal of the user, wherein the BTE-part and theITE-part are electrically or acoustically connected to each other.

The BTE-part as well as the ITE part may comprise at least one of saidmultitude of input transducers. The (DIR/OMNI) mode selection schemeaccording to the present disclosure may be applied to a hearing aidcomprising the BTE- as well as IT-parts and each comprising at least oneor the at least two input transducers.

The hearing aid may comprise an ITE-part adapted for being located at orin an ear canal of the user, wherein the ITE-part comprises said atleast two input transducers and said output transducer. The ITE-part ofthe hearing device may comprise a (e.g. customized) housing (e.g. an earmould). The housing may comprise a ventilation channel (cf. e.g. Vent inFIG. 3B). In an embodiment, the design of the ITE-part and the locationof the vent and the input transducers may induce a generally differentfeedback path from the output transducer (cf. FIG. 3B, microphone M₁ iscloser to the ventilation channel than microphone M₂). The scheme forcontrolling the use of either a beamformed signal or the signal from asingle one of the input transducers in the forward path of the hearingaid may be applied to such ITE-hearing aid to provide more designfreedom as regards the location of the input transducers and theventilation channel relative to each other. Thereby a larger maximumgain can be allowed (e.g. a larger full on gain). The hearing aid may beconstituted by the ITE-part (e.g. in the form of an ITE-style, e.g.custom fit, e.g. invisible in the canal (IIC) or completely in the canal(CIC) or in the canal (ITC) hearing aid).

The hearing aid may comprise a filter bank. The hearing aid (e.g. thefilter bank) may comprise or implement a time to time-frequencyconverter configured to provide said at least two electric inputsignals, or signals derived therefrom, as respective frequency sub-bandsignals. A time to time-frequency converter may e.g. be provided in eachinput transducer path (cf. units ‘t/f’ in FIG. 2A) to convert a(possibly digitized) electric input signal (or a processed versionthereof) from a time domain signal to a frequency domain signal(comprising a number K of frequency sub-band signals, e.g. representedby (complex) discrete values of the signals IN(k,m) where k and m arefrequency and time indices. The processing of signals of the forwardpath may e.g. be performed in the time-frequency domain. The hearing aidmay comprise a synthesis filter bank to convert a frequency sub-bandsignal to a time domain signal (cf. unit f/t in FIG. 2A). A distortionfree filter bank for a hearing aid is e.g. described in EP3229490A1.

The beamformer filter may be configured to provide said spatiallyfiltered signal as respective frequency sub-band signals.

The beamformer filter may be configured to be individually set inomni-directional or directional mode in the respective frequencysub-bands.

The hearing aid may be configured to provide that the controller selectsthe spatially filtered signal or one of the electric input signals, or asignal originating therefrom, as the input signal to the signalprocessor, individually for different frequency ranges based on saidfrequency sub-band signals, and a feedback criterion.

The feedback measures may be indicative of mechanical feedback.Selection of the spatially filtered signal or one of the electric inputsignals, or a signal originating therefrom, as the input signal to thesignal processor as proposed by the present disclosure may e.g. be usedto increase the maximum full-on gain for the hearing aid.

The feedback measures may be indicative of acoustic feedback.

The first and second threshold values for the feedback path differencemeasures may e.g. be determined for a given hearing aid of a given userin dependence of the hearing loss profile of the user (and thus thenecessary gain, as e.g. provided by a fitting algorithm).

In an embodiment, the first and second threshold values for the feedbackpath difference measures are predetermined, e.g. during a fittingsession, where processing parameters of the hearing aid (of a specificstyle) are adapted to the user in question. The first and secondthreshold values for the feedback path difference measures may howeveralso be dynamically determined in dependence of a current requested gainand the current respective feedback measures.

The hearing aid may be adapted to provide a frequency dependent gainand/or a level dependent compression and/or a transposition (with orwithout frequency compression) of one or more frequency ranges to one ormore other frequency ranges, e.g. to compensate for a hearing impairmentof a user. The signal processor may be configured to enhance theelectric input signals representing sound and providing a processedoutput signal. The signal processor may be configured to apply a numberof processing algorithms to the electric input signal(s).

The hearing aid comprises an output transducer for providing a stimulusperceived by the user as an acoustic signal based on a processedelectric signal from the signal processor. The output transducer maycomprise a receiver (loudspeaker) for providing the stimulus as anacoustic signal to the user. The output transducer may comprise avibrator for providing the stimulus as mechanical vibration of a skullbone to the user (e.g. in a bone-conducting, e.g. a bone-attached orbone-anchored hearing aid).

The multitude of input transducers may comprise a microphone or amultitude of microphones, each for converting an input sound to anelectric input signal.

The hearing aid comprises a directional microphone system (thebeamformer filter) adapted to spatially filter sounds from theenvironment, and thereby enhance a target acoustic source among amultitude of acoustic sources in the local environment of the userwearing the hearing aid. In an embodiment, the directional system isadapted to detect (such as adaptively detect) from which direction aparticular part of the microphone signal originates. This can beachieved in various different ways as e.g. described in the prior art.In hearing aids, a microphone array beamformer is often used forspatially attenuating background noise sources. Many beamformer variantscan be found in literature, see, e.g., [Brandstein & Ward; 2001] and thereferences therein. The minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR)beamformer is widely used in microphone array signal processing. Ideallythe MVDR beamformer keeps the signals from the target direction (alsoreferred to as the look direction) unchanged, while attenuating soundsignals from other directions maximally. The generalized sidelobecanceller (GSC) structure is an equivalent representation of the MVDRbeamformer offering computational and numerical advantages over a directimplementation in its original form.

The hearing aid may comprise a wireless receiver for receiving awireless signal comprising sound and for providing an electric inputsignal representing said sound. The hearing aid may comprise antenna andtransceiver circuitry adapted to establish a wireless link to anotherdevice, e.g. another hearing aid or a communication device, e.g. asmartphone. Preferably, frequencies used to establish a communicationlink between the hearing aid and the other device is below 70 GHz. Thewireless link may be based on a standardized or proprietary technology.The wireless link may be based on Bluetooth technology (e.g. BluetoothLow-Energy technology), or equivalent.

The hearing aid may be a portable, e.g. wearable, device, e.g. a devicecomprising a local energy source, e.g. a battery, e.g. a rechargeablebattery.

The hearing aid comprises a forward or signal path between an inputtransducer, such as a microphone or a microphone system and/or directelectric input (e.g. a wireless receiver)) and the output transducer.The signal processor is located in the forward path. The signalprocessor is adapted to provide a frequency dependent gain according toa user's particular needs. The hearing aid may comprise an analysis pathcomprising functional components for analyzing the input signal(s) (e.g.determining a level, a modulation, a type of signal, an acousticfeedback estimate, etc.). Some or all signal processing of the analysispath and/or the forward path may be conducted in the frequency domain.Some or all signal processing of the analysis path and/or the signalpath may be conducted in the time domain.

The hearing aid may comprise an analogue-to-digital (AD) converter todigitize an analogue input (e.g. from an input transducer, such as amicrophone) with a predefined sampling rate f_(s), f_(s) being e.g. inthe range from 8 kHz to 48 kHz (adapted to the particular needs of theapplication, e.g. 20 kHz). The AD-converter provides digital samplesx_(n) (or x[n]) at discrete points in time t_(n) (or n). Each audiosample represents the value of the acoustic signal at t_(n) by apredefined number N_(b) of bits, N_(b) being e.g. in the range from 1 to48 bits, e.g. 24 bits. Each audio sample is hence quantized using N_(b)bits (resulting in 2^(Nb) different possible values of the audiosample). A digital sample x has a length in time of 1/f_(s), e.g. 50 μs,for f_(s)=20 kHz. A number of audio samples may be arranged in a timeframe. A time frame may comprise 64 or 128 (or more) audio data samples.Other frame lengths may be used depending on the practical application.In an embodiment, the hearing aid comprises a digital-to-analogue (DA)converter to convert a digital signal to an analogue output signal, e.g.for being presented to a user via an output transducer.

The hearing aid, e.g. the input transducer, and/or the antenna andtransceiver circuitry may comprise a time-frequency (TF) conversionunit, e.g. an analysis filter bank, for providing a time-frequencyrepresentation of an input signal. The time-frequency representation maycomprise an array or map of corresponding complex or real values of thesignal in question in a particular time and frequency range (aspectrogram). The TF conversion unit may comprise a filter bank forfiltering a (time varying) input signal and providing a number of (timevarying) frequency sub-band signals each comprising a distinct frequencyrange of the input signal. The TF conversion unit may comprise a Fouriertransformation unit for converting a time variant input signal to a(time variant) signal in the (time-)frequency domain. The frequencyrange considered by the hearing aid may extend from a minimum frequencyf_(min) to a maximum frequency f_(max) comprising a part of the typicalhuman audible frequency range from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, e.g. at least a partof the range from 20 Hz to 12 kHz. Typically, a sample rate f_(s) islarger than or equal to twice the maximum frequency f_(max),f_(s)≥2f_(max). In an embodiment, a signal of the forward and/oranalysis path of the hearing aid is split into a number NI of frequencybands (e.g. of uniform width), where NI is e.g. larger than 5, such aslarger than 10, such as larger than 50, such as larger than 100, atleast some of which are processed individually. The frequency bands maybe uniform in width. The hearing aid may be adapted to process a signalof the forward and/or analysis path in a number NP of differentfrequency channels (NP≤NI). The frequency channels may be uniform ornon-uniform in width (e.g. increasing in width with frequency),overlapping or non-overlapping.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid comprises a number of detectorsconfigured to provide status signals relating to a current physicalenvironment of the hearing aid (e.g. the current acoustic environment),and/or to a current state of the user wearing the hearing aid, and/or toa current state or mode of operation of the hearing aid. Alternativelyor additionally, one or more detectors may form part of an externaldevice in communication (e.g. wirelessly) with the hearing aid. Anexternal device may e.g. comprise another hearing aid, a remote control,and audio delivery device, a telephone (e.g. a Smartphone), an externalsensor, etc.

In an embodiment, one or more of the number of detectors operate(s) onthe full band signal (time domain). In an embodiment, one or more of thenumber of detectors operate(s) on band split signals ((time-) frequencydomain), e.g. in a limited number of frequency bands.

In an embodiment, the number of detectors comprises a level detector forestimating a current level of a signal of the forward path. In anembodiment, the predefined criterion comprises whether the current levelof a signal of the forward path is above or below a given (L-)thresholdvalue. In an embodiment, the level detector operates on the full bandsignal (time domain). In an embodiment, the level detector operates onband split signals ((time-) frequency domain).

In a particular embodiment, the hearing aid comprises a voice detector(VD) for estimating whether or not (or with what probability) an inputsignal comprises a voice signal (at a given point in time). A voicesignal is in the present context taken to include a speech signal from ahuman being. It may also include other forms of utterances generated bythe human speech system (e.g. singing). In an embodiment, the voicedetector unit is adapted to classify a current acoustic environment ofthe user as a VOICE or NO-VOICE environment. This has the advantage thattime segments of the electric microphone signal comprising humanutterances (e.g. speech) in the user's environment can be identified,and thus separated from time segments only (or mainly) comprising othersound sources (e.g. artificially generated noise). In an embodiment, thevoice detector is adapted to detect as a VOICE also the user's ownvoice. Alternatively, the voice detector is adapted to exclude a user'sown voice from the detection of a VOICE.

In an embodiment, the hearing aid comprises an own voice detector forestimating whether or not (or with what probability) a given input sound(e.g. a voice, e.g. speech) originates from the voice of the user of thesystem. In an embodiment, a microphone system of the hearing aid isadapted to be able to differentiate between a user's own voice andanother person's voice and possibly from NON-voice sounds.

In an embodiment, the number of detectors comprises a movement detector,e.g. an acceleration sensor. In an embodiment, the movement detector isconfigured to detect movement of the user's facial muscles and/or bones,e.g. due to speech or chewing (e.g. jaw movement) and to provide adetector signal indicative thereof.

In an embodiment, the number of detectors comprises a feedback detector.The feedback detector may be configured to estimate an amount of or arisk of feedback. The feedback detector may be configured to indicatewhether or not a specific feedback criterion is fulfilled. A feedbackdetector is e.g. described in EP3185588A1.

The hearing aid comprises an acoustic (and/or mechanical) feedbackcontrol system. Acoustic feedback occurs because the output loudspeakersignal from an audio system providing amplification of a signal pickedup by a microphone is partly returned to the microphone via an acousticcoupling through the air or other media. The part of the loudspeakersignal returned to the microphone is then re-amplified by the systembefore it is re-presented at the loudspeaker, and again returned to themicrophone. As this cycle continues, the effect of acoustic feedbackbecomes audible as artifacts or even worse, howling, when the systembecomes unstable. The problem appears typically when the microphone andthe loudspeaker are placed closely together, as e.g. in hearing aids orother audio systems. Some other classic situations with feedback problemare telephony, public address systems, headsets, audio conferencesystems, etc. Adaptive feedback cancellation has the ability to trackfeedback path changes over time. It is based on a linear time invariantfilter to estimate the feedback path but its filter weights are updatedover time. The filter update may be calculated using stochastic gradientalgorithms, including some form of the Least Mean Square (LMS) or theNormalized LMS (NLMS) algorithms. They both have the property tominimize the error signal in the mean square sense with the NLMSadditionally normalizing the filter update with respect to the squaredEuclidean norm of some reference signal.

In an embodiment, the feedback control system comprises a feedbackestimation unit for providing a feedback signal representative of anestimate of the acoustic feedback path, and a combination unit, e.g. asubtraction unit, for subtracting the feedback signal from a signal ofthe forward path (e.g. as picked up by an input transducer of thehearing aid). In an embodiment, the feedback estimation unit comprisesan update part comprising an adaptive algorithm and a variable filterpart for filtering an input signal according to variable filtercoefficients determined by said adaptive algorithm, wherein the updatepart is configured to update said filter coefficients of the variablefilter part with a configurable update frequency f_(upd).

In an embodiment, the hearing aid further comprises other relevantfunctionality for the application in question, e.g. compression, noisereduction, etc.

Use:

In an aspect, use of a hearing aid as described above, in the ‘detaileddescription of embodiments’ and in the claims, is moreover provided. Inan embodiment, use is provided in a system comprising audiodistribution, e.g. a system comprising a microphone and a loudspeaker insufficiently close proximity of each other to cause feedback from theloudspeaker to the microphone during operation by a user. In anembodiment, use is provided in a system comprising one or more hearingaids (e.g. hearing instruments), headsets, ear phones, active earprotection systems, etc., e.g. in handsfree telephone systems,teleconferencing systems, public address systems, karaoke systems,classroom amplification systems, etc.

A Method:

In an aspect, a method of operating a hearing aid adapted to be locatedat or in an ear of a user and to compensate for a hearing loss of theuser is furthermore provided by the present application. The method maycomprise

-   -   providing at least two electric input signals representing sound        in the environment of the hearing aid as picked up by respective        at least two input transducers;    -   providing a spatially filtered signal based on said at least two        electric input signals;    -   processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or        more signals originating therefrom, and providing one or more        processed signals based thereon;    -   generating stimuli for an output transducer perceivable by the        user as sound based on said one or more processed signals;    -   estimating a current feedback from said output transducer to        each of the at least two input transducers and providing        respective feedback measures indicative thereof;    -   providing that—at a given time—either        -   selecting the electric input signal from the input            transducer among the at least two input transducers having            the smallest feedback measure, or a signal originating            therefrom, as the input signal to the processing, in case a            feedback path difference measure between at least two of            said feedback measures is larger than a first threshold            value, and/or        -   selecting the spatially filtered signal as the input signal            to the processing, in case a feedback path difference            measure between each of said feedback measures is(are)            smaller than a second threshold value.

In a further aspect, a method of operating a hearing aid adapted to belocated at or in an ear of a user and to compensate for a hearing lossof the user is provided. The method comprises

-   -   providing at least two electric input signals representing sound        in the environment of the hearing aid as picked up by respective        at least two input transducers;    -   providing a spatially filtered signal based on said at least two        electric input signals;    -   processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or        more signals originating therefrom, and providing one or more        processed signals based thereon;    -   generating stimuli for an output transducer perceivable by the        user as sound based on said one or more processed signals;    -   estimating a current feedback from said output transducer to        each of the at least two input transducers and providing        respective feedback measures indicative thereof;    -   switching between two modes of operation of the hearing aid, a        one-input transducer (e.g. omni-directional) mode of operation,        and a multi-input transducer (directional) mode of operation, in        dependence of the feedback measures.

It is intended that some or all of the structural features of the devicedescribed above, in the ‘detailed description of embodiments’ or in theclaims can be combined with embodiments of the method, whenappropriately substituted by a corresponding process and vice versa.Embodiments of the method have the same advantages as the correspondingdevices.

A Hearing System:

In a further aspect, a hearing system comprising a hearing aid asdescribed above, in the ‘detailed description of embodiments’, and inthe claims, AND an auxiliary device is moreover provided.

In an embodiment, the hearing system is adapted to establish acommunication link between the hearing aid and the auxiliary device toprovide that information (e.g. control and status signals, possiblyaudio signals) can be exchanged or forwarded from one to the other.

The auxiliary device may comprise a smartphone, or other portable orwearable electronic device, such as a smartwatch or the like.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary device is or comprises a remote controlfor controlling functionality and operation of the hearing aid(s). In anembodiment, the function of a remote control is implemented in aSmartPhone, the SmartPhone possibly running an APP allowing to controlthe functionality of the audio processing device via the SmartPhone (thehearing aid(s) comprising an appropriate wireless interface to theSmartPhone, e.g. based on Bluetooth or some other standardized orproprietary scheme).

In an embodiment, the auxiliary device is or comprises an audio deliverydevice, e.g. an audio gateway device adapted for receiving a multitudeof audio signals (e.g. from an entertainment device, e.g. a TV or amusic player, a telephone apparatus, e.g. a mobile telephone or acomputer, e.g. a PC) and adapted for selecting and/or combining anappropriate one of the received audio signals (or combination ofsignals) for transmission to the hearing aid.

In an embodiment, the auxiliary device is or comprises another hearingaid. In an embodiment, the hearing system comprises two hearing aidsadapted to implement a binaural hearing system, e.g. a binaural hearingaid system.

An APP:

In a further aspect, a non-transitory application (e.g. a softwareprogram), termed an APP, is furthermore provided by the presentdisclosure. The APP comprises executable instructions configured to beexecuted on an auxiliary device to implement a user interface for ahearing aid or a hearing system described above in the ‘detaileddescription of embodiments’, and in the claims. In an embodiment, theAPP is configured to run on cellular phone, e.g. a smartphone, or onanother portable device allowing communication with said hearing aid orsaid hearing system.

Definitions

In the present context, a ‘hearing aid’ refers to a device, e.g. ahearing instrument, or an active ear-protection device, or other audioprocessing device, which is adapted to improve, augment and/or protectthe hearing capability of a user by receiving acoustic signals from theuser's surroundings, generating corresponding audio signals, possiblymodifying the audio signals and providing the possibly modified audiosignals as audible signals to at least one of the user's ears. Suchaudible signals may e.g. be provided in the form of acoustic signalsradiated into the user's outer ears, acoustic signals transferred asmechanical vibrations to the user's inner ears through the bonestructure of the user's head and/or through parts of the middle ear.

The hearing aid may be configured to be worn in any known way, e.g. as aunit arranged behind the ear with a tube leading radiated acousticsignals into the ear canal or with an output transducer, e.g. aloudspeaker, arranged close to or in the ear canal, as a unit entirelyor partly arranged in the pinna and/or in the ear canal, as a unit, e.g.a vibrator, attached to a fixture implanted into the skull bone, as anattachable, or entirely or partly implanted, unit, etc. The hearing aidmay comprise a single unit or several units communicating electronicallywith each other. The loudspeaker may be arranged in a housing togetherwith other components of the hearing aid, or may be an external unit initself (possibly in combination with a flexible guiding element, e.g. adome-like element).

More generally, a hearing aid comprises an input transducer forreceiving an acoustic signal from a user's surroundings and providing acorresponding input audio signal and/or a receiver for electronically(i.e. wired or wirelessly) receiving an input audio signal, a (typicallyconfigurable) signal processing circuit (e.g. a signal processor, e.g.comprising a configurable (programmable) processor, e.g. a digitalsignal processor) for processing the input audio signal and an outputunit for providing an audible signal to the user in dependence on theprocessed audio signal. The signal processor may be adapted to processthe input signal in the time domain or in a number of frequency bands.In some hearing aids, an amplifier and/or compressor may constitute thesignal processing circuit. The signal processing circuit typicallycomprises one or more (integrated or separate) memory elements forexecuting programs and/or for storing parameters used (or potentiallyused) in the processing and/or for storing information relevant for thefunction of the hearing aid and/or for storing information (e.g.processed information, e.g. provided by the signal processing circuit),e.g. for use in connection with an interface to a user and/or aninterface to a programming device. In some hearing aids, the output unitmay comprise an output transducer, such as e.g. a loudspeaker forproviding an air-borne acoustic signal or a vibrator for providing astructure-borne or liquid-borne acoustic signal.

In some hearing aids, the vibrator may be adapted to provide astructure-borne acoustic signal transcutaneously or percutaneously tothe skull bone. In some hearing aids, the vibrator may be implanted inthe middle ear and/or in the inner ear. In some hearing aids, thevibrator may be adapted to provide a structure-borne acoustic signal toa middle-ear bone and/or to the cochlea. In some hearing aids, thevibrator may be adapted to provide a liquid-borne acoustic signal to thecochlear liquid, e.g. through the oval window.

A hearing aid may be adapted to a particular user's needs, e.g. ahearing impairment. A configurable signal processing circuit of thehearing aid may be adapted to apply a frequency and level dependentcompressive amplification of an input signal. A customized frequency andlevel dependent gain (amplification or compression) may be determined ina fitting process by a fitting system based on a user's hearing data,e.g. an audiogram, using a fitting rationale (e.g. adapted to speech).The frequency and level dependent gain may e.g. be embodied inprocessing parameters, e.g. uploaded to the hearing aid via an interfaceto a programming device (fitting system) and used by a processingalgorithm executed by the configurable signal processing circuit of thehearing aid.

A ‘hearing system’ refers to a system comprising one or two hearingaids, and a ‘binaural hearing system’ refers to a system comprising twohearing aids and being adapted to cooperatively provide audible signalsto both of the user's ears. Hearing systems or binaural hearing systemsmay further comprise one or more ‘auxiliary devices’, which communicatewith the hearing aid(s) and affect and/or benefit from the function ofthe hearing aid(s). Auxiliary devices may be e.g. remote controls, audiogateway devices, mobile phones (e.g. SmartPhones), or music players.

Hearing aids, hearing systems or binaural hearing systems may e.g. beused for compensating for a hearing-impaired person's loss of hearingcapability, augmenting or protecting a normal-hearing person's hearingcapability and/or conveying electronic audio signals to a person.Hearing aids or hearing systems may e.g. form part of or interact withpublic-address systems, active ear protection systems, handsfreetelephone systems, car audio systems, entertainment (e.g. karaoke)systems, teleconferencing systems, classroom amplification systems, etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The aspects of the disclosure may be best understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures.The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just showdetails to improve the understanding of the claims, while other detailsare left out. Throughout, the same reference signs are used foridentical or corresponding parts. The individual features of each aspectmay each be combined with any or all features of the other aspects.These and other aspects, features and/or technical effect will beapparent from and elucidated with reference to the illustrationsdescribed hereinafter in which:

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure,

FIG. 2A shows a second embodiment of a hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 2B shows a third embodiment of a hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure,

FIG. 3A shows a fourth embodiment of a hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure; and

FIG. 3B shows a fifth embodiment of a hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure, and

FIG. 4A schematically shows a mechanical feedback measure (M-FB) versusfrequency curve for a hearing aid, illustrating the parameter full-ongain (FOG), and

FIG. 4B schematically illustrates exemplary first and second feedbackmeasures (FBM) versus frequency.

The figures are schematic and simplified for clarity, and they just showdetails which are essential to the understanding of the disclosure,while other details are left out. Throughout, the same reference signsare used for identical or corresponding parts.

Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the disclosure, aregiven by way of illustration only. Other embodiments may become apparentto those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations. Thedetailed description includes specific details for the purpose ofproviding a thorough understanding of various concepts. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that these concepts may bepracticed without these specific details. Several aspects of theapparatus and methods are described by various blocks, functional units,modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, etc.(collectively referred to as “elements”). Depending upon particularapplication, design constraints or other reasons, these elements may beimplemented using electronic hardware, computer program, or anycombination thereof.

The electronic hardware may include microprocessors, microcontrollers,digital signal processors (DSPs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), gated logic, discretehardware circuits, and other suitable hardware configured to perform thevarious functionality described throughout this disclosure. Computerprogram shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instructionsets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, softwaremodules, applications, software applications, software packages,routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution,procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise.

The present application relates to the field of hearing aids.

A well-known problem in hearing aids is feedback. This relates to a) theinternal hardware related (mechanical) feedback that set the limit forfull-on-gain (FOG) measured in a 711/2 cc coupler (IEC 711 compliantcoupler) used in the datasheet as well as b) acoustic feedback typicallyobserved as a howling tone.

There are various ways of handling the feedback problem using digitalsignal processing for dynamic feedback cancellation as well as tools inthe fitting software to reduce gain (at frequencies prone to feedbackfor the hearing aid or hearing aid style in question).

Whereas for the hardware related feedback, the design options forhearing aids are typically a choice between A) a reduction in theFull-On Gain (FOG)-parameter B) a selection of new transducers and/or C)improvement of mechanical design.

The Full-On Gain (FOG) parameter limitation is an important feature forcontrolling the stability of digital hearing aids, by limiting themaximum allowable gain in the hearing aid. The full-on gain limitationis a characteristic of the hardware of the hearing aid and representsthe maximum gain that can be applied to the hearing aid without causingmechanical feedback. The determination of the full-on gain is typicallyperformed according to a predefined, e.g. standardized, procedure (e.g.ANSI S3.22-2003: Specification of Hearing Aid Characteristics), e.g.with the gain control of the hearing aid set to its full-on position andwith an input sound pressure level (SPL) of 50 dB. Alternatively, themeasurement conditions may be indicated in a data sheet of the hearingaid together with the limiting Full-On Gain (FOG) value.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a hearing aid according to the presentdisclosure. The hearing aid (HD) is adapted to be located at or in anear of a user and to compensate for a hearing loss of the user. Thehearing aid comprises a forward path for processing an input signalrepresenting sound in the environment. The forward path comprises atleast two input transducers (e.g. microphones (M1, M2)), each forpicking up sound from the environment of the hearing aid and providingrespective at least two electric input signals (IN1, IN2). The forwardpath further comprises a beamformer filter (BFU) for filtering the atleast two electric input signals or signals originating therefrom andproviding a spatially filtered signal (IN_(BF)). The forward pathfurther comprises a signal processor (HLC) for processing one or more ofthe electric input signals (IN1, IN2) or one or more signals (e.g. thespatially filtered signal IN_(BF)) originating therefrom and providingone or more processed signals (OUT) based thereon, and providing one ormore processed signals (OUT) based thereon. The forward path furthercomprises an output transducer (OT, e.g. a loudspeaker) for generatingstimuli (STIM, e.g. acoustic stimuli) perceivable by the user as soundbased on the one or more processed signals (OUT). The hearing aid (HD)further comprises a feedback estimation system (FE) for estimating acurrent feedback path (FBI₁, FBP₂) from the output transducer (OT) toeach of the at least two input transducers (M₁, M₂) and providingrespective feedback measures (FBE1, FBE2) indicative thereof. Themicrophones (M1, M2) each picks up a sound that is a mixture of an‘external sound’ from the environment (x₁, x₂) and a sound (v₁, v₂) fromthe output transducer (OT) leaked back to the microphones via respectiveacoustic feedback paths (FBP₁, FBP₂) (cf. acoustic sum unit ‘+’ to theleft of the respective microphones (M1, M2) in FIG. 1). The hearing aidfurther comprises a controller (CTR) configured to receive the feedbackmeasures (FBE1, FBE2) from the feedback estimation system (FE) and theelectric input signals (IN1, IN2) and the beamformed signal (IN_(BF)),and possibly a requested gain (or insertion gain, IG) from the signalprocessor (HLC). The hearing aid may comprise a loop gain estimator forestimating a current loop gain. Using a current estimate of a feedbackpath from the output transducer to the microphone(s), and knowledge ofthe currently requested gain to compensate for a hearing impairment ofthe user, the fulfilment of a specific feedback criterion for entering acritical feedback mode of operation may be checked (e.g. enter criticalfeedback mode, if LG˜FBE+IG≥0 dB). In the critical feedback mode, thecontroller (CTR) may be configured to select the electric input signal(IN1; IN2) from the input transducer among the at least two inputtransducers (M1, M2) having the smallest feedback measure (or gainmargin) as the input signal (IN) to the signal processor (HLC), in casea feedback path difference measure determined by comparison of at leasttwo of said feedback measures is larger than a first threshold valueFBDM_(TH1) (e.g. FBDM₁₂=FBE1−FBE2>FBDM_(TH1)). In the critical feedbackmode, the controller (CTR) may further be configured to select thespatially filtered signal (IN_(BF)) as the input signal (IN) to thesignal processor (HLC), in case all of the feedback path differencemeasures determined by comparison of each of said feedback measuresis(are) smaller than a second threshold value FBDM_(TH2) (e.g.FBDM₁₂=FBE1−FBE2<FBDM_(TH2)). In an embodiment, FBDM_(TH1)=FBDM_(TH2).In an embodiment, FBDM_(TH1)≥FBDM_(TH2). The (fully) ‘digitalcomponents’ of the hearing aid (e.g. other components than the input andoutput transducers) are enclosed by the dashed outline and denoted(DSP), cf. e.g. also digital signal processor (DSP) of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 2A shows an embodiment of a hearing aid (HD) according to thepresent disclosure similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1. In theembodiment of FIG. 2A, however, the hearing aid (HD) is partitioned in aBTE-part and an ITE-part. The BTE-part (BTE) is e.g. adapted to belocated at or behind an ear (pinna) of the user. The ITE-part (ITE) ise.g. adapted to be located at or in an ear canal of the user. Thehearing aid (HD) may be of a particular style sometimes termed‘receiver-in-the-ear’ (RITE), because the ITE-part comprises theloudspeaker (OT, often termed ‘receiver’ in the field of hearing aids).The embodiment of FIG. 2A comprises three input transducers, twomicrophones (M_(BTE1), M_(BTE2)) located in the BTE-part and one furtherinput transducer (IT_(ITE), e.g. a microphone, an accelerometer, or thelike to pick up vibrations) located in the ITE-part. The BTE andITE-parts are electrically connected by conductors for connecting thesignal processor (HLC) to the output transducer (OT) and inputtransducer (IT_(ITE)) to the beamformer filter (BFU), and for providingpower (at least) to the input transducer. The third input transducer(IT_(ITE)) located in the ITE-part receives an external sound (orvibration) x₃ mixed with a feedback signal v₃ from the output transducer(OT) via feedback path FB₃. The BTE-part comprises, in addition to thetwo microphones (M_(BTE1), M_(BTE2)) and the electric input from theinput transducer (IT_(ITE)) located in the ITE-part, the beamformerfilter (BFU), the feedback estimation system (FE), the controller (CTR)and the signal processor (HLC) as described in connection with FIG. 1.The three functional units, BFU, CTR, and FE, are shown as one unit(enclosed in box denoted BFU-CTR-FE) in FIG. 2A. Additionally, each ofthe three (time domain) inputs (IN_(BTE1), IN_(BTE2), IN_(ITE)) from therespective input transducers (M_(BTE1), M_(BTE2), IT_(ITE)) to thebeamformer filter (BFU) comprises respective analysis filter banks (t/f)for providing the time domain signals as frequency sub-band signals forbeing individually processed in the forward path of the hearing aid(here the BTE-part) Similarly, the output path (OUT) comprises asynthesis filter bank (f/t) for converting frequency sub-band signals toa time-domain signal (OUT), which is forwarded to the output transducer(OT, e.g. a loudspeaker, in the ITE-part) via an electric cable of aconnecting element. The presence of three input transducers provides animproved possibility of making an appropriate beamforming e.g. includingdirecting a beam towards the user's mouth (e.g. in a telephone situationor the like). The different location of the three input transducersprovides an improved possibility to identify an input transducer with arelatively low feedback path (high gain margin) in many acousticsituations. In an embodiment, a directional signal (IN′) based on thetwo BTE-microphone signals IN_(BTE1) and IN_(BTE2), or feedbackcorrected versions (ERR1 and ERR2) thereof, may be used as a firstmicrophone signal and the input signal IN_(ITE) from the ITE-microphone(IT_(ITE)), or feedback corrected version (ERR3) thereof, may be used asa second microphone signal. The scheme according to the presentdisclosure may be used to—in a specific critical feedback mode ofoperation—select between the beamformed signal (IN′) based on theBTE-microphone signals and the beamformed signal (IN) based on all threeinput signals in dependence of a predetermined feedback criterion.

FIG. 2B shows an embodiment of a hearing aid (HD) according to thepresent disclosure similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and2A. A difference is that the embodiment of FIG. 2B further comprises afeedback control system (denoted FBC in FIG. 2B (curved solid lineenclosure)) comprising respective adaptive filters (FBE1, FBE2, FBE3)and combination units (‘+’) (and here also including the beamformercontrol unit (BFU-CTR); the latter may in other embodiments be excludedfrom the feedback control system). The three adaptive filters (FBE1,FBE2, FBE3, respectively) are configured to adaptively estimate thethree feedback paths (FBP1, FBP2, FBP3, respectively) from the outputtransducer (OT) to the three input transducers (IT_(BTE1), IT_(BTE2),IT_(ITE), respectively). The three subtraction units (‘+’) areconfigured to subtract the three feedback path estimates (FB1 est, FB2est, FB3 est, respectively) from the electric input signals (IN_(BTE1),IN_(BTE2), IN_(ITE), respectively) and to provide respective feedbackcorrected input signals (ERR1, ERR2, ERR3). The feedback corrected inputsignals (ERR1, ERR2, ERR3) are fed to the beamformer-control unit(BFU-CTR). The feedback path estimates (FB1 est, FB2 est, FB3 est) arefed to a feedback path difference measure unit (FBPD) configured todetermine respective feedback path difference measures (here e.g.FBDM₁₂=FB1 est−FB2 est, FBDM₁₃=FB1 est−FB3 est, and FBDM₂₃=FB2 est−FB3est) and to provide a selection-control signal SMctr in dependencethereof (e.g. according to a predefined criterion). The selectioncontrol signal SMctr is fed to the beamformer-control unit (BFU-CTR)(possibly together with requested gain (IG) from the signal processor(HLC)) for selecting one of the feedback corrected input signals (ERR1,ERR2, ERR3) or a beamformed signal provided as a combination of thethree feedback corrected input signals (cf. e.g. IN_(BF) in FIG. 1).Based thereon, the beamformer-control unit (BFU-CTR) provides aresulting signal (IN) for further processing (e.g. according to thehearing aid user's needs) in the processor (HLC), and presentation tothe user. The beamformer filtering unit may e.g. comprise a beamformeralgorithm of a generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC) type, e.g. a minimumvariance distortionless response (MVDR) type beamformer algorithm. Thebeamformer filtering unit may e.g. provide a non-linear combination ofthe input signals, e.g. implemented by a trained neural network.

FIG. 3A shows an embodiment of a BTE-style hearing aid according to thepresent disclosure. The hearing aid is partitioned in a BTE-part adaptedto be located at or behind the ear ((Ear (pinna)) and an ITE-partadapted to be located at or in the ear canal (Ear canal) of the user, asdescribed in connection with FIG. 2A, 2B. As appears from FIG. 3A, theBTE-part comprises two microphones (M_(BTE1), and M_(BTE2)) and theITE-part comprises one microphone (MITE). The ITE-part comprises an earmould (MOULD) constituting a housing, wherein the microphone (MITE) andthe loudspeaker (SPK) are located. The ear mould is e.g. adapted to theuser's ear canal to minimize leakage of sound from the loudspeaker (SPK)of the hearing aid to the environment (and from the environment to theear drum). The ear mould may comprise a vent to allow pressure to bealigned between the environment and the residual volume between themould and the ear drum (to minimize occlusion). The ear mould (MOULD)may comprise a sensor (SITE) located near the surface of the housingallowing a contact or interaction with tissue of the ear canal. Thesensor may e.g. be an electric potential sensor (e.g. to pick up signalsfrom the brain (e.g. EEG) or and/from the eye balls (e.g. EOG) or frommuscle contractions (e.g. jaw movements), or a movement sensor, e.g. topick up vibrations of the skin or bone (e.g. to detect when the userspeaks (‘own voice’)), or an EPF-sensor to pick up light reflectionsfrom the ear canal, or a temperature sensor for estimating atemperature, or a photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor for estimating variousproperties of the user's body (e.g. heart rate), etc.

The three microphone signals (IN_(BTE1), IN_(BTE2), IN_(ITE), cf. FIG.2A, 2B) are routed to a beamformer filter (BFU) and used for providingone or more beamformed signals Y_(BF) for further processing in thesignal processor (DSP) comprising a controller (CTR) and processor (HLC)according to the present disclosure as e.g. described in connection withFIG. 1, 2A, 2B. The signal(s) from one or more sensors SITE is/arerouted to the signal processor (DSP) for being considered there, (e.g.for being processed and/or transmitted to another device, e.g. to a userinterface for processing and/or presentation there). One or more othersensors connected to the hearing aid may be located in the BTE-part orelsewhere at or around the ear of the user (or implanted in the head orbody of the user).

The hearing aid (HD), e.g. the BTE-part and/or the ITE-part, maycomprise a (wireless or wired) programming interface and possibly a(wireless or wired) user communication interface. The programminginterface (allowing connection to a programming device, e.g. a fittingsystem) and the user communication interface may be implemented usingone or both wireless transceivers (WLR1, WLR2) shown in FIG. 3A to belocated in the BTE-part. Alternatively, the interfaces may beimplemented as wired connections, e.g. via a connector.

The connecting element (IC) between the BTE-part and the ITE-part isshown as a cable comprising electric conductors for electricallyconnecting electronic components (and battery (BAT)) of the BTE- andITE-parts. The connecting element comprises a connector to the BTE-partallowing the ITE-part (and the connecting element) to be easily detachedand attached to the BTE-part (and e.g. to be exchanged with another one,e.g. comprising a different loudspeaker or a different sensor orsensors, or no microphone or more than one microphone, etc.). Theconnecting element (IC) between the BTE-part and the ITE-part maycomprise an acoustic tube, in case the loudspeaker is located in theBTE-part instead of in the ITE-part.

The BTE-part comprises a substrate (SUB) comprising electroniccomponents (memory (MEM), a FrontEnd-IC (FE), and a digital signalprocessor IC/DSP) and appropriate wiring (Wx) for mutually connectingthe electronic components on the substrate and to the battery (BAT), tothe wireless transceivers (WLR₁, WLR₂), to the microphones (M_(BTE1),M_(BTE2), M_(ITE)) to the sensor(s) (SITE), to the loudspeaker (SPK),and to possible other components of the BTE- and ITE-parts. The memory(MEM) may store appropriate settings for the hearing aid, e.g. differenthearing aid programs and customized parameters. The FrontEnd IC (FE) isan integrated circuit handling interfaces to mainly analogue components,such as microphones and loudspeaker, and possibly sensors, etc. Thedigital signal processor (DSP) comprises digital components of thehearing aid, including the beamformer filter (BFU), the controller(CTR), processor (HLC), etc., as described in connection with FIG. 1,2A, 2B.

The microphones of the hearing aid are configured to pick up respectivesound elements (S_(BTE) at the BTE-microphones (M_(BTE1), M_(BTE2)) andSITE at the ITE-microphone (M_(ITE))) of a sound field (S) around thehearing aid (HD) (i.e. around a user wearing the hearing aid). A soundfield (S_(ED)) at the ear drum (Ear drum) of the user wearing thehearing aid is a result of the sound produced by the loudspeaker (SPK)and sound leaked into the ear canal from the environment (e.g. through avent or other openings) of the ITE-part of the hearing aid. The sounddelivered by the loudspeaker is determined according to the presentdisclosure based on the user's hearing ability (e.g. hearing loss, i.e.corresponding to an appropriate gain applied by the hearing aid), thesound fields (SBTE, SITE) picked up by the microphones, and the currentfeedback estimates from the loudspeaker (SPK) to the respectivemicrophones (M_(BTE1), M_(BTE2), and M_(ITE)).

FIG. 3B shows a further embodiment of a hearing aid (HD) according tothe present disclosure. FIG. 3B schematically illustrates an ITE-stylehearing aid according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thehearing aid (HD) comprises or consists of an ITE-part comprising ahousing (Housing), which may be a standard housing aimed at fitting agroup of users, or it may be customized to a user's ear (e.g. as an earmould, e.g. to provide an appropriate fitting to the outer ear and/orthe ear canal). The housing schematically illustrated in FIG. 3B has asymmetric form, e.g. around a longitudinal axis from the environmenttowards the ear drum (Eardrum) of the user (when mounted), but this neednot be the case. It may be customized to the form of a particular user'sear canal. The hearing aid may be configured to be located in the outerpart of the ear canal, e.g. partially visible from the outside, or itmay be configured to be located completely in the ear canal, possiblydeep in the ear canal, e.g. fully or partially in the bony part of theear canal.

To minimize leakage of sound (played by the hearing aid towards the eardrum of the user) from the ear canal, a good mechanical contact betweenthe housing of the hearing aid and the Skin/tissue of the ear canal isaimed at. In an attempt to minimize such leakage, the housing of theITE-part may be customized to the ear of a particular user.

The hearing aid (HD) comprises a number Q of microphones M_(q), i=1, . .. , Q, here two (Q=2). The two microphones (M₁, M₂) are located in thehousing with a predefined distance d between them, e.g. 8-10 mm, e.g. ona part of the surface of the housing that faces the environment when thehearing aid is operationally mounted in or at the ear of the user. Themicrophones (M₁, M₂) are e.g. located on the housing to have theirmicrophone axis (an axis through the centre of the two microphones)point in a forward direction relative to the user, e.g. a look directionof the user (as e.g. defined by the nose of the user, e.g. substantiallyin a horizontal plane), when the hearing aid is mounted in or at the earof the user. Thereby the two microphones are well suited to create adirectional signal towards the front (and or back) of the user. Themicrophones are configured to convert sound (S₁, S₂) received from asound field S around the user at their respective locations torespective (analogue) electric signals (s₁, s₂) representing the sound.The microphones are coupled to respective analogue to digital converters(AD) to provide the respective (analogue) electric signals (s1, s2) asdigitized signals (s1, s2). The digitized signals may further be coupledto respective filter banks to provide each of the electric input signals(time domain signals) as frequency sub-band signals (frequency domainsignals). The (digitized) electric input signals (s₁, s₂) are fed to adigital signal processor (DSP) for processing the audio signals (s₁,s₂), e.g. including one or more of spatial filtering (beamforming),(e.g. single channel) noise reduction, compression (frequency and leveldependent amplification/attenuation according to a user's needs, e.g.hearing impairment), spatial cue preservation/restoration, etc. Thedigital signal processor (DSP) may e.g. comprise the appropriate filterbanks (e.g. analysis as well as synthesis filter banks) to allowprocessing in the frequency domain (individual processing of frequencysub-band signals). The digital signal processor (DSP) is configured toprovide a processed signal s_(out) comprising a representation of thesound field S (e.g. including an estimate of a target signal therein).The processed signal s_(out) is fed to an output transducer (here aloudspeaker (SPK), e.g. via a digital to analogue converter (DA), forconversion of a processed (digital electric) signal s_(out) (or analogueversion s_(out)) to a sound signal S_(out). In a mode of operationaccording to the present disclosure (in dependence of the currentfeedback path estimates), the hearing aid is configured to use A) eithera spatially filtered signal (from a beamformer filter, cf. e.g. IN_(BF)and BFU in FIG. 1), or B) a specific one of the electric input signals(s₁, s₂) (or a processed, e.g. feedback corrected, version thereof), tobe processed by the processor (e.g. according to the user's needs) andpresented to the user via the loudspeaker (SPK) (possibly via theDA-converter (DA)).

The hearing aid (HD) may e.g. comprise a venting channel (Vent)configured to minimize the effect of occlusion (when the user speaks).In addition to allowing an (un-intended) acoustic propagation pathS_(leak) from a residual volume (cf. Res. Vol in FIG. 3B) between ahearing aid housing and the ear drum to be established, the ventingchannel also provides a direct acoustic propagation path of sound fromthe environment to the residual volume. The directly propagated soundSan reaching the residual volume is mixed with the acoustic output ofthe hearing aid (HD) to create a resulting sound SED at the ear drum. Ina mode of operation, active noise suppression (ANS) is activated in anattempt to cancel out the directly propagated sound San.

The hearing aid (HD) comprises a forward path comprising two (or moretransducer(s)), here two microphone(s) (M₁, M₂), appropriateAD-converters (AD), the digital signal processor (DSP), e.g. comprisingappropriate analysis and synthesis filter banks, as the case may be, andone or more processing algorithms for enhancing the input audiosignal(s) (s₁, s₂) to provide a processed signal s_(out), possibly adigital to analogue converter (DA), and the output transducer, hereloudspeaker (SPK). The forward path is configured to pick up externalsound, process the sound and provide a processed version of the sound(S_(out)) to the user, e.g. the user's ear drum. In addition to theexternal sound (S₁, S₂), the microphones (M₁, M₂) also receive (and pickup) sound (S_(leak1), S_(leak2)) leaked from the output transducer (SPK)of the hearing aid e.g. via the vent (Vent) and/or other leakage paths(denoted ‘Direct-path’ in FIG. 3B) from the residual volume (Res. vol)at the ear drum to the respective microphones (M₁, M₂). The leakagepaths represented by leaked sound (S_(leak1), S_(leak2)) are estimatedby the hearing aid via a feedback estimation unit (FE), cf. e.g. FIG. 1,and the resulting estimates (cf. e.g. FBE1, FBE2) are used to controlwhich of the input signals (s₁ or s₂) or the beamformed signal formed asa combination of the electric input signals (s₁, s₂) according to thepresent disclosure, as e.g. described in connection with FIG. 1, isfurther processed and presented to the user at a given point in time.The ventilation channel (Vent) is asymmetrically located in the hearingaid housing (Housing). Such asymmetric location may be a result of adesign constraint due to components of the hearing aid, e.g. a battery.Thereby the first and second microphones (M₁, M₂) have differentfeedback paths from the loudspeaker (SPK). The first microphone (M₁) islocated closer to the ventilation channel than the second microphone(M₂). Other things being equal, the feedback measure (FBM1) of the firstmicrophone is larger than the feedback measure (FBM2) of the secondmicrophone, at least above a minimum frequency, see e.g. FIG. 4B. Thescheme according to the present disclosure for controlling (e.g. toswitch, such as fade, between) the use of either a beamformed signal orthe signal from a single one of the input transducers in the forwardpath of the hearing aid may be applied to the ITE-hearing aid of FIG. 3Bto allow more flexibility as regards the location of the inputtransducers and the ventilation channel relative to each other withoutcompromising (decreasing) the full-on gain value of the hearing aid.When the microphone system of the hearing aid is in a DIR-mode (wherethe beamformed signal is used for amplification and presentation to theuser) and when feedback to one of the microphones (or a feedback pathdifference measure for the two microphones) increases above a thresholdlevel, the mode of the microphone system is changed to an OMNI-mode. Inthe OMNI-mode, the signal from the (single) microphone having the lowestfeedback is used for amplification and presentation to the user. Therebyfeedback howl at the current level of feedback can be avoided.

The hearing aid comprises an energy source, e.g. a battery (BAT), e.g. arechargeable battery, for energizing the components of the device.

FIG. 4A shows a mechanical feedback measure (M-FB) versus frequencycurve for a hearing aid, illustrating the parameter full-on gain (FOG),and FIG. 4B schematically illustrates exemplary first and secondfeedback measures (FBM) versus frequency.

FIG. 4A illustrates how a (mechanical) feedback measure, M-FB [dB],varies over frequency, f [Hz], (possibly on a logarithmic scale) atfull-on gain conditions (e.g. ANSI S3.22-2003: Specification of HearingAid Characteristics) and that a specific frequency range (between firstand second threshold frequencies f_(TH1), f_(TH2)) determine the maximumfull-on gain (FOG). The maximum full-on gain for a super- orultra-power, BTE-type hearing aid (e.g. FIG. 3A) may e.g. be in a rangebetween 60 dB and 90 dB, e.g. ≤87 dB, and between 40 dB and 70 dB for acorresponding ITE-type hearing aid (e.g. FIG. 3B). The specificfrequency range determining maximum allowable FOG (i.e. exhibits maximummechanical feedback) is dependent on the specific hardware construction,but may for a typical BTE-super-power hearing aid lie in a range between800-1000 Hz, e.g. having a maximum feedback at 900 Hz, and for acorresponding ITE hearing aid around 3 kHz (as indicated in FIG. 4A by‘f_(max)’). FIG. 4A illustrates exemplary modes of operation (cf.reference ‘Modes’ and three arrows pointing towards three frequencyranges, and three different modes of operation) of a hearing aidaccording to the present disclosure (e.g. as indicated in FIG. 3B). Atlow frequencies (below Gm), the directional system (cf. e.g. BFU inFIG. 1) of the hearing aid is in an omni-directional mode (denoted‘Enhanced omni in FIG. 4A, e.g. implemented by a delay and sumbeamformer (or the like)), so in the frequency bands covering thisrange, the resulting beamformed signal is used for further processing(amplification, etc.) in the processor (HLC, in FIG. 1). At highfrequencies (above f_(TH2)), the directional system of the hearing aidis in a directional mode, e.g. implemented by a delay and subtractbeamformer (or the like), so in the frequency bands covering this range,the resulting beamformed signal is used for further processing in theprocessor (HLC, in FIG. 1). In the frequency bands covering theintermediate frequency range (above f_(TH1) and below f_(TH2)), one ofthe input signals (e.g. IN1 or IN2 in FIG. 1, or s₁ or s₂ in FIG. 3B) isselected for further processing in the processor (so the beamformedsignal is not used in the intermediate range).

FIG. 4B illustrates an example of different (acoustic) feedback pathsfrom the output transducer to the respective (first and second) inputtransducers, as e.g. illustrated by M₁ and M₂ of FIG. 3B. The feedbackpath is represented by feedback gain (attenuation, e.g. expressed bynegative gain values in dB), FBG [dB], versus frequency, f [Hz] (e.g. ina logarithmic scale, or as FBG-values at preselected discretefrequencies). The feedback gain for a hearing aid depends of the style,including the relative positions of microphones and loudspeaker. In a(very) general sense feedback typically decreases with increasingfrequency from around 1 kHz to 10 kHz. A number of large peaks andvalleys providing local deviations from this trend may, however, beexperienced in this frequency range. The schematic course of the twoFBG-curves of FIG. 4B indicate this general trend.

The first feedback measure (FBM₁), here feedback gain FBG, for the firstmicrophone (M₁) is generally larger (less negative) than the secondfeedback measure (FBM₂) for the second microphone (M₂). A feedback pathdifference measure FBDM₁₂ may be defined as a difference between thefirst and second feedback measures (e.g. feedback path estimates),FBDM₁₂=FBM₁−FBM₂. The feedback path difference measure FBDM₁₂ may bedefined at a number of specific frequencies, e.g. at centre frequenciesof all (or selected) frequency bands, or in limited number of frequencybands, e.g. 500 Hz, 1 kHz, 2 kHz, 4 kHz, 8 kHz. A distance measure,FBDM, defined by values at one or more of these frequencies may—in aspecific critical feedback mode of operation, e.g. where a specificfeedback criterion (e.g. loop gain≤LG_(max)) is fulfilled—be used tocontrol (determine a selection of) the input signals to the hearing aidprocessor according to the present disclosure. In the example of FIG.4B, the smallest gain margin GM (GM₁, GM₂) (e.g. of the order of 10-20dB) for the two microphones (M₁, M₂) are indicated at around frequencyf₁, e.g. corresponding to maximum feedback gains of −12 dB and −20 dB,respectively.

As discussed in connection with FIG. 4A, the hearing aid may be indifferent modes of operation in different frequency bands (or ranges)depending on the value of the feedback path difference measure(s) ineach frequency band (or range). The (resulting) feedback path differencemeasure (FBDM(Δf)) of a given frequency range Δf may e.g. be determinedas an average (e.g. a weighted average) of individual feedback pathdifference measures at frequencies of the range in question. The firstand second feedback measures or the (resulting) feedback path differencemeasure may (e.g. furthermore) be averaged over a certain time, e.g. ofthe order of seconds.

It is intended that the structural features of the devices describedabove, either in the detailed description and/or in the claims, may becombined with steps of the method, when appropriately substituted by acorresponding process.

As used, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to includethe plural forms as well (i.e. to have the meaning “at least one”),unless expressly stated otherwise. It will be further understood thatthe terms “includes,” “comprises,” “including,” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, butdo not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groupsthereof. It will also be understood that when an element is referred toas being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directlyconnected or coupled to the other element, but intervening elements mayalso be present, unless expressly stated otherwise. Furthermore,“connected” or “coupled” as used herein may include wirelessly connectedor coupled. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The steps ofany disclosed method is not limited to the exact order stated herein,unless expressly stated otherwise.

It should be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to“one embodiment” or “an embodiment” or “an aspect” or features includedas “may” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment of the disclosure. Furthermore, the particular features,structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or moreembodiments of the disclosure. The previous description is provided toenable any person skilled in the art to practice the various aspectsdescribed herein. Various modifications to these aspects will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles definedherein may be applied to other aspects.

The claims are not intended to be limited to the aspects shown herein,but is to be accorded the full scope consistent with the language of theclaims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intendedto mean “one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather“one or more.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the term “some”refers to one or more.

Accordingly, the scope should be judged in terms of the claims thatfollow.

REFERENCES

-   EP3185589A1 (Oticon) 28 Jun. 2017.-   [Brandstein & Ward; 2001] M. Brandstein and D. Ward, “Microphone    Arrays”, Springer 2001.-   EP3229490A1 (Oticon) 11 Oct. 2017.-   EP3185588A1 (Oticon) 28 Jun. 2017.

1. A hearing aid adapted to be located at or in an ear of a user and tocompensate for a hearing loss of the user, the hearing aid comprising aforward path comprising at least two input transducers, each for pickingup sound from an environment of the hearing aid and providing respectiveat least two electric input signals; a beamformer filter for filteringsaid at least two electric input signals or signals originatingtherefrom and providing a spatially filtered signal; a signal processorfor processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or moresignals originating therefrom, and providing one or more processedsignals based thereon, and an output transducer for generating stimuliperceivable by the user as sound based on said one or more processedsignals, and a feedback estimation system for estimating a currentfeedback from the output transducer to each of the at least two inputtransducers and providing respective feedback measures indicativethereof, and a controller configured to receive said feedback measuresfrom said feedback estimation system and—wherein the controller isconfigured to switch between two modes of operation of the hearing aid,a one-input transducer (e.g. omni-directional) mode of operation, and amulti-input transducer (directional) mode of operation, in dependence ofthe feedback measures.
 2. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein thecontroller is configured to switch to the one-input transducer mode ofoperation in case a current feedback path difference measure between twoof said feedback measures is larger than a first threshold value, and toselect the electric input signal from the input transducer among the atleast two input transducers having the smallest feedback measure, or asignal originating therefrom, as the input signal to the signalprocessor.
 3. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein the controlleris configured to switch to the multi-input transducer mode of operationin case a feedback path difference measure between each of said feedbackmeasures is smaller than a second threshold value, and to select thespatially filtered signal as the input signal to the signal processor.4. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein said feedback measure fora given input transducer comprises an impulse response of the feedbackpath from the output transducer to the input transducer in question, ora frequency response of the feedback path from the output transducer tothe input transducer in question, the latter being measured at a numberof frequencies.
 5. A hearing aid according to claim 1 wherein the atleast two input transducers are asymmetrically located relative to theoutput transducer.
 6. A hearing aid according to claim 1 comprising aBTE-part adapted for being located at or behind an ear (pinna) of theuser and an ITE-part adapted for being located at or in an ear canal ofthe user, wherein the BTE-part and the ITE-part are electrically oracoustically connected to each other.
 7. A hearing aid according toclaim 6 wherein the BTE-part as well as the ITE part comprises at leastone of said multitude of input transducers.
 8. A hearing aid accordingto claim 1 comprising an ITE-part adapted for being located at or in anear canal of the user, wherein the ITE-part comprises said at least twoinput transducers and said output transducer.
 9. A hearing aid accordingto claim 6 wherein said ITE-part comprises a ventilation channel orother open structure allowing exchange of air between a volume near theear drum and the environment, when the ITE-part is mounted at or in theear canal of the user.
 10. A hearing aid according to claim 9 whereinthe at least two input transducers are asymmetrically located relativeto the ventilation channel or to the other open structure.
 11. A hearingaid according to claim 1 wherein the beamformer filter is configured toprovide said spatially filtered signal as respective frequency sub-bandsignals.
 12. A hearing aid according to claim 11 wherein the beamformerfilter is configured to be individually set in omni-directional ordirectional mode in the respective frequency sub-bands.
 13. A hearingaid according to claim 11 wherein the controller is configured to selectthe spatially filtered signal or one of the electric input signals, or asignal originating therefrom, as the input signal to the signalprocessor, individually for different frequency ranges based on saidfrequency sub-band signals, and a feedback criterion.
 14. A hearing aidaccording to claim 1 wherein said feedback measures are indicative ofacoustic feedback or mechanical feedback.
 15. A hearing aid according toclaim 1 wherein the output transducer comprises a loudspeaker forproviding the stimulus as an acoustic signal to the user or a vibratorfor providing the stimulus as mechanical vibration of a skull bone tothe user.
 16. A method of operating a hearing aid adapted to be locatedat or in an ear of a user and to compensate for a hearing loss of theuser, the method comprising providing at least two electric inputsignals representing sound in the environment of the hearing aid aspicked up by respective at least two input transducers; providing aspatially filtered signal based on said at least two electric inputsignals; processing one or more of said electric input signals or one ormore signals originating therefrom, and providing one or more processedsignals based thereon; generating stimuli for an output transducerperceivable by the user as sound based on said one or more processedsignals; estimating a current feedback from said output transducer toeach of the at least two input transducers and providing respectivefeedback measures indicative thereof; switching between two modes ofoperation of the hearing aid, a one-input transducer (e.g.omni-directional) mode of operation, and a multi-input transducer(directional) mode of operation, in dependence of the feedback measures.17. A hearing aid adapted to be located at or in an ear of a user and tocompensate for a hearing loss of the user, the hearing aid comprising aforward path comprising at least two input transducers, each for pickingup sound from an environment of the hearing aid and providing respectiveat least two electric input signals; a beamformer filter for filteringsaid at least two electric input signals or signals originatingtherefrom and providing a spatially filtered signal; a signal processorfor processing one or more of said electric input signals or one or moresignals originating therefrom, and providing one or more processedsignals based thereon, and an output transducer for generating stimuliperceivable by the user as sound based on said one or more processedsignals, and a feedback estimation system for estimating a currentfeedback from the output transducer to each of the at least two inputtransducers and providing respective feedback measures indicativethereof, and a controller configured to receive said feedback measuresfrom said feedback estimation system and being configured to in case acurrent feedback path difference measure between at least two of saidfeedback measures is larger than a first threshold value, select theelectric input signal from the input transducer among the at least twoinput transducers having the smallest feedback measure, or a signaloriginating therefrom, as the input signal to the signal processor, andin case a feedback path difference measure between each of said feedbackmeasures is smaller than a second threshold value, select the spatiallyfiltered signal as the input signal to the signal processor.
 18. Ahearing aid according to claim 17 wherein the at least two inputtransducers are asymmetrically located relative to the outputtransducer.
 19. A hearing aid according to claim 17 comprising anITE-part adapted for being located at or in an ear canal of the user,the ITE-part comprising said at least two input transducers.
 20. Ahearing aid according to claim 19 comprising a ventilation channel oropening to diminish a user's perception of occlusion, and wherein the atleast two input transducers are asymmetrically located in the ITE-partwith respect to said ventilation channel or opening.